Estrogen synthesis and secretion during postnatal testicular development in male goats: In situ aromatase mRNA expression

• Estradiol 17β is present in the serum of prepubertal male goats.
• The goat testis synthesized in vitro estradiol 17β and estrone from tritiated androgens.
• Formestane inhibits the testicular estrogen synthesis.
• P-450 aromatase mRNA was expressed in the seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells of pepubertal male goats.

The role of testosterone in males has been extensively studied. However, studies in several species suggest that estrogens are also important for the development and function of male brain, bone, gonads as well as for spermatogenesis and sexual behavior. Data related to testicular P450-aromatase expression and estrogen receptors α and β in several species had been published. However, to our knowledge there is no information on testicular mRNA aromatase expression, estrogen synthesis, or estradiol-17β concentrations in the circulation of the male goat. Thus, the objective of this work was to conduct in vivo and in vitro studies related to estrogen synthesis and serum concentrations during the postnatal testicular development in goat bucks. To do this, circulating concentrations of estradiol-17β and testosterone were evaluated in male goat during the first year of life, starting at 15 days of age. Besides, in order to assess the estrogen-producing ability of testicles from prepubertal male goats (four months), testicular cells were incubated with tritiated androgen precursors (3H-androstenedione and 3H-testosterone) in the presence or absence of the P450-aromatase inhibitor formestane, using TLC to identify sex steroids. Finally, the expression and tissue distribution of P450-aromatase mRNA in the testis of 3–5 month old males was evaluated by in situ RT-PCR. Results indicate that estradiol-17β is present in the serum of male goats at 0.5 months of age, and that there are significant increases at 3 and 10 months of age. The in vitro synthesis of tritiated estradiol-17β was inhibited by the P450-aromatase inhibitor formestane. Messenger RNA for P450-aromatase was abundantly expressed both in Sertoli cells in the testis of goats of ages three, four and five months. The expression of P450 mRNA was also localized in Leydig cells. It is concluded that the prepubertal goat has measurable quantities of serum estradiol-17β and that their testis has the capacity to synthesize estrogens during this period.